# Lady Oracle

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{{short description|Novel by Margaret Atwood}}
{{Infobox book
| name          = Lady Oracle
| title_orig    = 
| translator    = 
| image         = LadyOracle.jpg
| caption       = First edition
| author        = Margaret Atwood 
| illustrator   = 
| cover_artist  = 
| country       = Canada
| language      = English
| series        = 
| genre         = 
| publisher     = [McClelland and Stewart](/source/McClelland_and_Stewart)
| release_date  = 1976
| english_release_date =
| media_type    = Print
| pages         = 376
| isbn          = 978-0-7710-0838-2
| oclc          = 38592400
| preceded_by   = [Surfacing](/source/Surfacing_(novel))
| followed_by   = [Life Before Man](/source/Life_Before_Man)
}}

'''''Lady Oracle''''' is a novel by [Margaret Atwood](/source/Margaret_Atwood) that parodies Gothic romances and fairy tales.<ref>Arnold E. and Cathy N. Davidson, [https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/scl/article/view/7890/8947 "MARGARET ATWOOD'S LADY ORACLE: THE ARTIST AS ESCAPIST AND SEER"]. ''[Studies in Canadian Literature](/source/Studies_in_Canadian_Literature)'', Volume 03, Number 2 (1978).</ref> It was first published by [McClelland and Stewart](/source/McClelland_and_Stewart) in 1976.

==Plot summary==

The novel's [protagonist](/source/protagonist), Joan Foster, is a romance novelist who has spent her life running away from difficult situations. The novel alternates between flashbacks from the past and scenes from the present. Through flashbacks, the reader sees her first as an overweight child whose mother constantly criticizes her, and later, hiding her career, her past as the mistress of a [Polish](/source/Polish_people) count, and her affair with a [performance art](/source/performance_art)ist called The Royal Porcupine, from her [bipolar](/source/bipolar_disorder) husband Arthur.<ref>"Read it for its gracefulness, for its good story, for its help in your fantasy life". ''[The Globe and Mail](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)'', September 4, 1976.</ref>

In the present, she has recently published a volume of [feminist poetry](/source/feminist_poetry) which becomes a breakthrough success and is overwhelmed by the pressures of sudden fame. Joan panics after receiving a blackmail attempt from someone who has found out about her secrets. With the help of two acquaintances, she fakes her own death and then flees to Italy.<ref>"A contrary critic takes a crack at Lady Oracle: The Globe reviewer loved Atwood's latest novel. So did others. But what of the view from abroad? We asked a noted British critic." ''[The Globe and Mail](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)'', October 9, 1976.</ref>

==Awards==
The novel was co-winner, with [Margaret Gibson](/source/Margaret_Gibson_(writer))'s short story collection ''The Butterfly Ward'', of the [City of Toronto Book Award](/source/Toronto_Book_Awards) in 1977.<ref>"Archeologist, nurse, hockey player among winners of merit awards". ''[The Globe and Mail](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)'', March 5, 1977.</ref> In 1978, it was the second prize winner, behind [Robertson Davies](/source/Robertson_Davies)' novel ''[Fifth Business](/source/Fifth_Business)'', of the Periodical Distributors of Canada's award for the best fiction published in paperback.<ref>"Davies wins book award". ''[The Globe and Mail](/source/The_Globe_and_Mail)'', November 1, 1978.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Margaret Atwood}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1976 Canadian novels
Category:1976 English-language novels
Category:Novels by Margaret Atwood
Category:Novels about bipolar disorder
Category:Novels about writers
Category:McClelland & Stewart books

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